The Great Commission: Let’s Finish the Task!
By Rick Warren
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
Jesus didn't just come back to life and then go straight to heaven. After the resurrection, he spent 40 days traveling in Jerusalem and talking to people—one time to a group of 500 people! Because he appeared to so many, the Gospel spread rapidly over the Roman Empire.
Right before he went back to heaven, Jesus gave his last instructions to his followers. These commands, known as the Great Commission, are not just meant for priests or pastors or ministers or missionaries. They apply to everyone who follows Jesus.
These are Jesus’ instructions: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV).
This is the assignment for everybody in God's family. We are to pass on the Good News to the world, near and far. Why? There are three reasons:
First, God wants a big family. If you're in God’s family, then he wants you to bring others into his family. He wants you to tell people about the Gospel.
Second, only God can offer you salvation and hope. This is the greatest news in the world! Keeping it a secret would be criminal.
Third, the Great Commission is the hinge point of history. The timing of Jesus Christ's return is dependent upon our obedience to his instructions. God is waiting for us to finish the task of telling the world about Jesus.
The Bible says that God is “not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NASB). God will not force anyone to love him, but he wants everybody to have the chance to say “yes” or “no” to his love.
Matthew 24:14 says, “The Good News about God's kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come” (NCV). Finishing the task of the Great Commission is inevitable. The only question is, which generation will have the privilege of doing it?
Let’s work together to finish the task. You can start by telling someone about Jesus today.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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